No classroom time for first-year uni students

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By HOLLY MONERY

UNIVERSITY students starting a teaching degree will no longer have classroom placements in their first year of study in Tasmania.

UNIVERSITY students starting a teaching degree will no longer have classroom placements in their first year of study in Tasmania.

The new structure will maintain the same number of practicum days, 80 days over the four-year degree, but in a different format.

The University of Tasmania's Faculty of Education Dean Professor John Williamson said the adjustment was made to ensure education students have a year of solid content training behind them and therefore feel more confident about moving into the classroom environment in their second year.

"We have a strong commitment to allow access and participation in local schools but we hope that a shared learning experience in the first year will give our students a strong foundation and better equip them to benefit from the practical experience," he said.

The new structure for practicums will allow for 20 days in the classroom in year two, 30 in year three and 30 in year four, while the Masters degree will be broken up into three 20-day blocks.

Branch President of the Australian Education Union Tasmania, Terry Polglase, said the union was consulted and accepted the changes but it was still important that students have time in a real classroom in their first year.

"The issue we would have is that is would be very advantageous for students to have some form of observation session during year one," he said.

"It's a question for students if they want to continue and it would be good for them to assess how they are going in regard to selecting that career and pathway."

Mr Polglase said it was almost essential for any future teachers contemplating a teaching degree to visit schools in some capacity.

"When you are in a classroom you're not only thinking about the students you're talking to but their parents and the responsibilities you have at the time to make sure your actions and conversation are in line with community and departmental expectations," he said.